20250323

stay in the truth

2 John (JDV)

2 John 1:1 The elder: To the chosen lady and her children, whom I care about in the truth — and not only I, but also all who know the truth —
2 John 1:2 because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us permanently.
2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and care.
2 John 1:4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.
2 John 1:5 So now I ask you, dear lady — not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning — that we care about one another.
2 John 1:6 This is care: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in it.
2 John 1:7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.
2 John 1:9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not welcome him into your home, and don’t greet him;
2 John 1:11 because the one who greets him shares in his evil works.
2 John 1:12 Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.
2 John 1:13 The children of your chosen sister send you greetings.

stay in the truth

John’s second letter was to a church group. Although he addressed it to “the elect lady and her children” all of the commands in it are plural, which suggests he had the group in mind — probably with a female leader.

He encouraged them to stay in the truth they know, and not to be eager to “go beyond it” (9). It is tempting to always be looking for some new teaching, but those who do so are in danger of wandering away from the simple message of grace in the gospel.

John warned the believers not to even receive those with “new” teachings into their homes. That would be taking part in a deceiver’s “evil works” (11).

LORD, help us to stay in the truth, and so avoid being lured away from it by “new” teachings.